Pay-row cinema faces boycott

OSCAR-nominated film director Mike Leigh has vowed not to visit the Cornerhouse cinema as the row over workers' pay intensifies. Last month director Ken Loach blasted the Oxford Street arthouse cinema for failing to pay its lowest paid workers the Manchester Minimum Wage - which is £1.01 more than the national minimum wage.

OSCAR-nominated film director Mike Leigh has vowed not to visit the Cornerhouse cinema as the row over workers' pay intensifies.

Last month director Ken Loach blasted the Oxford Street arthouse cinema for failing to pay its lowest paid workers the Manchester Minimum Wage - which is £1.01 more than the national minimum wage.

Now, Mike Leigh, whose latest project, Happy-Go-Lucky, has been nominated for a best screenplay Academy Award, has joined the campaign.

The 65-year-old filmmaker and dramatist grew up in Higher Broughton and would visit the Cornerhouse when he was in town.

His films, including Life Is Sweet, Secrets And Lies and Vera Drake, have been at the heart of the independent cinema scene the Cornerhouse represents.

Cornerhouse bosses say, as a charity, they cannot afford to pay workers any more. The cinema's last annual return to the Charities Commission, submitted earlier this month, showed its spending exceeded its income by about £200,000.

But in a letter to the M.E.N. Mr Leigh said: "It is lamentable that the Cornerhouse cannot pay its workers properly. The excuse that the cinema is a charity is understandable but as a charity it surely must prioritise the spending of its funds in favour of its dedicated workforce.

"I join Ken in his commitment not to visit the Cornerhouse until this matter is resolved decently."

Cornerhouse director and chief executive Dave Moutrey said: "We pay the minimum wage - along with every other arts organisation in Manchester - but don't see other organisations being vilified in the same way.

"I'm quite surprised at Mike Leigh and Ken Loach as we have shown their work for over 20 years and neither has contacted me directly. I will be writing to them to express my concern."

Mr Moutrey said an extension to the Cornerhouse was being paid for with ring-fenced Lottery money but that he hoped it would help the cinema make more money, so `eventually' they might be able to pay people more.